A comparison of lateral minimal incision and traditional posterolateral incision in total hip arthroplasty

Objective To compare the clinical effects of total hip arthroplasty( THA) with lateral minimal incision and traditional posterolateral incision. Methods Between August 2009 and July 2012,59 patients underwent THA were enrolled,including 26( group A) with lateral minimal incision and 33( group B) with traditional posterolateral incision. The age,body mass index,length of incision,operation time,blood loss,muscle strength,inpatient duration and Harris Hip Score( HHS) were recorded and compared. Results The average inpatient duration in group A was shorter than group B( P0. 05),and blood loss was less in group A( P0. 01). Two weeks after surgery the abductor muscle strength in group A was higher than group B( P 0. 01). The HHS two months after operation in group A was higher than group B( P0. 01),but there were no significant difference 6 months later( P0. 05). Conclusion Total hip arthroplasty could be performed either with lateral minimal incision or traditional posterolateral incision satisfactorily. However,lateral minimal incision is more compatible with relatively thin people than traditional posterolateral incision,which make operations more convenient,decrease the blood loss and shorten inpatient duration effictively.